The Rotterdam criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome: evidence-based criteria?

Abstract

The Rotterdam criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are used by a wide range of medical professionals and researchers. However, the development of these criteria was based on expert meetings and not on evidence-based treatment guidance. Over the last decade, the Rotterdam criteria have been useful in guiding research, and a number of clinical studies on PCOS have been published consequently. We plead to revisit the Rotterdam criteria based on the available evidence in prognostic studies and randomized controlled trials. In this opinion paper, we provide arguments of the strengths and limitations of the Rotterdam criteria in guiding treatment selections and predicting prognoses in women with infertility. While the Rotterdam criteria have shown their advantages in predicting reproductive prognosis, the next step is to evaluate whether they can guide treatment choices in infertility as well as other health aspects of the syndrome. Based on available data in clinical studies, we should be able to determine whether the Rotterdam criteria are evidence-based criteria.

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“…Participants enrolled in the study were newly diagnosed with PCOS using the Rotterdam consensus criteria. 3,43 All of the patients signed a written informed consent form in Arabic, which explained the purpose of the study and duration of enrollment. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards of King Saud University College of Medicine, University of Jordan, Al Ansaar General Hospital, and Qassim University.…”

Simplified 4‐item criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome: A bridge too far?

“…It is not surprising that a recent study among U.S. gynaecologists indicate that more than a quarter of respondents admitted to not knowing which criteria they used to diagnose PCOS . There are growing calls for revised definitions of PCOS, amidst increasing concern that current diagnostic criteria for PCOS introduces variability and poses barriers for accurate pathophysiological characterization of PCOS …”

“…5 There are growing calls for revised definitions of PCOS, 6 amidst increasing concern that current diagnostic criteria for PCOS introduces variability and poses barriers for accurate pathophysiological characterization of PCOS. [7][8][9] In order to pinpoint the essential elements of PCOS for designing simplified diagnostic criteria, we performed a prospective cross-sectional study to identify, in an unbiased manner by computer algorithm, the critical predictors of oligomenorrhea. 10 Oligomenorrhoea was chosen as the reference variable as it is the most frequent criteria used for the diagnosis of PCOS 11 and is an essential pathological feature that has particular clinical relevance.…”

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“…PCOS was diagnosed based on the Rotterdam criteria [19]. The patients who were willing to participate in the trial were evaluated by a gynecologist and were included in the study if they met the Rotterdam criteria.…”